Apparatus for automatically positioning and supporting a member



Aug. 16, 1966 J. w. O'BRIEN 3,256,282

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY POSITIONING AND SUPPORTING A MEMBER Filed May 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I II I I I II I'L'JI 29g, I I 20;:

II I :1" 29 I I I'x" I II I I II I' I II I Ll ION 112711 2 $.11

FIG. I

INVENTORL JEREMIAH W. O'BRIEN Aug. 16, 1966 J. w. O'BRIEN 3,266,282

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY POSITIONING AND SUPPORTING A MEMBER Filed May 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. IEb

INVENTOR. JEREMIAH W. O'BRIEN HIS TTORNEY- J. w. OBRIEN 3,266,282 APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY POSITIONING AND SUPPORTING A MEMBER Filed May 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 16, 1966 FIG. Y1

FIGY

INVENTOR.

JEREMIAH W. OBRIEN 7% Q 7242:. HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,266 282 APPARATUS FOR AUTQIl IATICALLY POSITIQN- ING AND SUPPORTING A MEMBER Jeremiah Wagner OBrien, Pittsburgh, Pa, assignor to This invention relates to an apparatus employing one or more adjustable rolls, such as a rolling mill, and more particularly, to an apparatus for use in conjunction therewith which will automatically position one or more of the rolls in a predetermined location to facilitate, for example, their quick removal and replacement.

While the present invention may have utility in generally all types of rolling mills, and for that matter machines used to process paper and rubber, it immediately commends itself to certain types of rolling mills employing roll-chock supporting beams which extend between the vertical housings and on which the chocks of various length rolls are longitudinally positioned. By the employment of such a beam, minimum length rolls may be always employed, notwithstanding the fact that a wide range of varying width products, such as beams and plates, are to be rolled. An exemplary mill of this type is disclosed and described in M. P. Sigers copending US. application Serial No. 146,580 filed October 20, 1961, now Patent No. 3,212,314.

As addressed to such a mill, the present invention provides an apparatus that will automatically and without manual assistance register one or more rolls of the mill in a predetermined roll changing position. In addition, it provides for automatically disengaging the chocks from the rolling load transferring surface of the beam and positioning the chocks on supporting surfaces formed thereon, after which the chocks and roll can be rapidly moved onto an awaiting roll changing rig, if one is being used.

In this manner the roll changing operation can be greatly simplified and performed more quickly than by presently known arrangements. Moreover, the apparatus herein disclosed is very economical to install and operate and has the additional significant advantage of readily cooperating with existing mill components.

In order to facilitate a better understanding of the novel objects and advantages of the invention, the preferred embodiment thereof will be described in connection with which reference will be made to the following drawings:

FIGURE I is an outside elevational view of a universal wide flange beam mill which incorporates the features of the present invention,

FIGURES 11a and b constitute composite sectional views of the upper half of the mill shown in FIGURE I, the right-hand elements in section being illustrated in the position they assume during operation of the mill, and the left-hand elements in section being illustrated in the position they assume during the roll changing operation,

FIGURE III is a sectional view taken on lines III-III of FIGURE II, and

FIGURES IV, V, and VI are three elevational sequential views, which when considered with FIGURE II represent the respective positions assumed by the illustrated elements when the mill is brought from an operative position to a roll changing position.

With reference to the drawings, there is provided a universal beam mill 10 having a pair of vertically arranged housings 11 and 12, the housing 11 being only 3,266,282 Patented August 16, 1966 shown in FIGURES I and II, while both housings can be seen in FIGURE III. For the purpose of describing the invention, since the elements provided in each housing are similar, only the related elements associated with the housing 11 will be hereinafter mentioned unless otherwise required. The housing 11 is provided with a window 13 into which is received for vertical adjustment therein, a pair of horizontally arranged cooperative rol-ls 14 and 15, each having a pair of opposed bearing-chock assemblies 16, hereinafter referred to simply as chocks, arranged on the opposite journals of the rolls. As shown only in FIGURE I the housing 11 includes a cross frame 17 which receives one of the two vertical rolls 118 of the mill, the other frame and vertical roll not being shown. Since the illustrated embodiment of the invention is shown only in relationship to the roll 14, further cornment on the rolls l5 and 18 will not be given.

The roll 14 is adjusted vertically by a pair of conventional screwdown screws 20, as shown in FIGURE II, one provided for each housing. The bottom of the screw engages a transversely extending top roll-chock supporting beam 21 that extends between and moves vertically relative to the housings 11 and 12. This beam, which receives the rolling loads from the chock 16 and transmits them to the screw, has a central elongated portion 22, which can be best seen in FIGURE II, including a lower, flat, load bearing surface 23 having formed thereon opposite parallel extending chock supporting and guiding ledges 24. The upper portion of the chock 16 is provided with centrally flat load transmitting horizontal surface 25 that engages the surface 23 of the beam as can be seen in FIGURES II and IV. The chock has opposed inverted L-shaped projections 26, the horizontal portions 27 of which engage with the chock supporting ledges 24 of the beam 21.

A balance piston cylinder mechanism provided for the roll 14 is shown in FIGURES I and II and includes a hydraulic piston cylinder assembly 28 which is mounted at the top of the mill housings 1.1 and 12. To the piston rod of the piston cylinder assembly, a pair of roll balance carrier bars 29 provided for the chock are secured by a cross bar 30. The bars 29 extend downwardly through openings 31 provided in the beam 21 as shown in FIG- URE II. The lower ends of these carrier bars have oppositely arranged hooks 32 which engage correspond ing hooks 33 formed on downwardly extending bars 34. As shown in FIGURE II, the bars 34 pass through the chock 16 and are connected to a bearing cap 35 which engages and supports one of the journals of the roll 14. By the interconnection of the bars 34 and the carrier bars 29, the chock 16 is urged against the bottom of the screw 20 thereby to define the roll pass position of the roll 14.

The present invention has reference in the preferred form to providing a mechanism for automatically positioning the beam 21 and, hence, the roll 14 in a predetermined vertical location for quick removal of the roll 14 and as an adjunct thereto for automatically disengaging the rolling load transfer surface 25 of the chock 16 from the surface 23 of the beam 21, at the same time causing the portions 27 of the chock to engage the ledges 24 of the beam 16 and causing the hooks 32 and 33 to separate. Of course, when the roll 14 is lowered to its rolling position, these elements and surfaces will again engage or disengage each other as the case may be.

In accordance with this objective, the pair of carrier bars 29 are provided at their opposite ends with a pair of upwardly extending projections 37 each having their upper ends formed into a U-shaped portion 38, as best shown in FIGURE III. Between the parallel projections of each of the U-shaped portions 38, there is provided a general horizontally disposed lever 39 which is connected to the projection 37 by a pin 41, the lever extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the carrier bars 29. As noted, particularly in FIGURE II, each lever is formed with a long and short arm, the short arm being located adjacent to the housing 11 and having an upper rounded surface which projects below a lug 42 formed on the beam 21, the lug being identified in FIGURES IV-VI. In this construction, as the levers '39 pivot, the rounded surfaces of their short arms are brought into engagement with the lugs 42.

The long arm of each lever 39 is similarly rounded at its upper end, in which this end cooperates with a lug 43 formed on the housing 11 and located in the window 13 thereof so as to be engaged by the rounded portion of the long arm when the lever is raised to its upper position as in FIGURES III, IV and V. The housing at the top of the window is provided with stop surfaces 44 which are engaged by the upper surfaces of the lugs 42 of the beam 21 when the beam has been raised to its upper position. This condition is shown in FIGURE VI.

In the normal rolling operating position, as illustrated at the right-hand side of FIGURE II, the hooks 32 of the carrier bars 29 are in engagement with the corresponding books 33 of the bars 34 so that the surface 25 of the chock 16 is urged against the adjacent corresponding surface 23 of the beam 21, and accordingly, the beam is held snug against the bottom of the screw 20. In this connection it will be observed that there is a clearance between the supporting ledges 24 of the beam 21 and the portions 27 of the chock 16. It will also be noted that in the operating position of the mill the rounded portions of the long arms of the levers 39 are out of engagement with the housing lugs 43 and that the lugs 42 of the beam 21 are out of contact with the stop surfaces 44 of the housing 11.

It is also significant to observe that due to the differential in the lengths of the arms of the levers 39, the geometry of their pivot points, and the positions of the lugs 42 that the rounded ends of the short arms of the levers are caused to engage the lugs 42 thereby the ends of the long arms of the levers are raised above the other ends thereof.

It will be appreciated that many of the components of the mill have not been particularly described since a description thereof is not deemed necessary to fully appreciate the construction and operation of the exemplary form of the present invention.

Reference will now be particularly addressed to the sequence drawings, namely FIGURES II, IV, V and VI, in order to facilitate an explanation of the operation of the roll positioning device.

During normal rolling operation, as previously noted, the aforesaid elements of the roll positioner are as indicated at the right-hand side of FIGURE II. To reiterate briefly, the surface 25 of the chock 16 is against the surface 23 of the beam 21, portions 27 of the chock 16 are out of engagement with the ledges 24 of the beam and the hooks 32 of the carrier bars 29 are in positive engagement with the hooks 33 of the bars 34.

When it is desired to change the roll 14, the screw 20 will be raised by a screwdown drive, not shown, and the pressure of the piston cylinder assembly 28 will be exerted on the carrier bars 29 to cause the roll chock 16 and the beam '21 to rise with the screw 29. All of these elements during the initial period of movement will rise together and there will be no relative movement therebetween As pointed out previously, and as clearly shown in FIGURES II and IV, the rounded surfaces of the long arms of the levers 39 are maintained higher in elevation than the short arms thereof so that as the screw is raised, the long arms come into engagement with the housing lugs 43 prior to the lugs 42 of the beam coming into contact with the stop surfaces 44 of the housing 11. This relationship is shown clearly in FIGURE IV. Once this contact is made and upon the further rotation of the screw 20, the long arms of the levers 39 are forced downwardly causing the short arms to rise, the action simulating that of a third-class lever system This movement can be seen in comparing FIGURES IV and V. This action will cause the beam 21 to be raised relative to the moving chock 16 whereby the rolling load transferring surfaces 23 and 25, respectively, of these members will be separated. This result is shown in FIG- URE V. This operation, due to the particular quadrant of rotation of the levers, will occur soon after the levers have engaged the lugs 43 of the housing. It also will be appreciated that as the levers 39 cause the beam 21 to rise relative to the chock that the whole assembly will continue to move upwardly by reason of the pressure of balance cylinder assembly 28.

As the assembly continues to move upwardly, the levers 39 are further displaced causing further relative movement between the beam 21 and the chock 16, whereby the hooks 33 of the bars 34 which are connected to the chock 16 are raised away from the hooks 32 of the roll balance carrier bars 29. This movement can be best observed in comparing FIGURES V and VI. This action, it will be appreciated, is caused by virtue of the newly assumed contact between the ledges 24 of the beam 21 and the surfaces of the portions 27 of the chock 16. Immediately after the hooks 32 of the roll balance carrier bars 29 are separated from the hooks 33 of the bars 34, the lugs 42 of the beam 21 will engage the stop surfaces 44 of the housing 11.

As shown in FIGURE VI, when the mechanism is in this position, the opposite ends of the arms of the levers 39 will be in a horizontal position with their two ends bridging the lugs 43 and the surfaces 44. This condition will prevent the hydraulic cylinder from raising the assembly any further and assure a maintenance of the parts in their roll changing positions. Should the screw continue to be rotated, it will simply move further away from the beam 21. As a result, the beam, and hence, the roll will be automatically positioned in a vertical direction. Also as shown in FIGURE VI the load transferring surfaces of the beam and chock will have been separated, the chock coming into a supporting relationship with the beam, while yet being disengaged from the carrier bars 29. Thus, the roll assembly may be quickly slid over the supporting surfaces of the ledges 24 of the beam 21 and onto an awaiting roll changing rig, not shown. The extending projection of the beam 21 shown to the left of FIGURE III will permit at least the adjacent end of the roll to pass out of the window of the housing before it is necessary for the roll changing rig to support it.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I consider to represent the best embodiment thereof. However, I desire to have it understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. In combination with a rolling mill having at least one roll that is moved into and out of a roll changing position, said roll having chocks secured to its opposite ends,

a device for positioning said roll in said roll changing position comprising:

means for moving the roll in a direction toward said roll changing position,

a chock supporting beam arranged between the roll and said roll moving means having a supporting surface engageable by said chocks when said roll is brought into said roll changing position,

a member for each chock engageable with the chocks,

means carried by said members engageable with said supporting beam in a manner that said chocks are placed in two conditions, one wherein said chocks are urged against said beam and said connecting members engage with said chocks and, two, wherein said chocks are supported by said supporting surface of said beam and said connecting members are disengaged from said chocks, and

means associated with said members to cause relative movement between said chocks and said beam upon the movement of said roll in a direction toward said roll changing position, during which relative movement said chocks are brought into engagement with and are supported by said beam, said chocks are disengaged from said members, and said roll is positioned in said roll changing position.

2. In combination with a rolling mill having at least one roll that is moved into and out of a roll changing position,

a housing for rotatably receiving a pair of rolls that form a roll bite, one roll being adjustable relative to the other,

chocks secured to the opposite ends of the adjustable roll and having load bearing surfaces,

a device for predeterminately positioning and supporting said adjustable roll in said roll changing position comprising:

a beam having a load bearing surface adapted to be contacted by said chocks for receiving the rolling load,

complementary cooperative surfaces on said beams and said chocks which are disengaged during rolling of the mill but which are engaged when said roll is in said roll changing position,

a pair of screws engageable with said beam arranged on the side opposite from said roll for receiving the rolling loads received by said beam and for moving said roll in the direction of said roll bite,

a piston cylinder assembly including a pair of connecting links for each chock engageable with said chocks to urge said chocks and beam in a direction of said screws,

a lever pivotally connected to each link and arranged substantially perpendicular thereto,

said levers having long and short arms,

means on said beam for engaging said short arms of said levers and normally causing them to assume an inclined position wherein the ends of said long arms project above the ends of the short arms,

means on said housing engageable by said long arms when said roll is moved in a direction toward said roll changing position, wherein said levers are rotated to cause said chocks to move upwardly relative to said beam so that said respective load bearing surfaces are disengaged and said chocks are disconnected from said links, and

means on said housing engageable by said beam to interrupt its movement in the direction of said screws to predeterminately position said roll in said roll changing position.

3. In combination with a rolling mill including a pair of rolls 14 and 15 having bearing chocks 16 carried at their opposite ends,

a device for positioning and supporting the bearing chocks 16 of one of said rolls 14 in a predetermined position for removal of the roll, said device including a beam 21 for supporting said bearing chocks 16 of said one roll when said bearing chocks are brought to said roll removal position,

a movable bar 29 selectably engageable with said hearing chocks 16 of said one roll thereby to place said bearing chocks 16 of said one roll into two positions relative to said beam 21, in which in one position by virtue of the bar said bearing chocks 16 are carried by the bar and urged against said beam 21, and in said second position by virtue of said bar said hearing chocks 16 are free of said bar and supported by the beam 21,

an arm 39 carried by said bar 29 displaceable when said bearing chocks 16 of said one roll are brought to said roll removal position, said displacement of said arm 39 causing movement of said bar 29 to efiect relative movement between said bearing chocks 16 and said beam 21 upon the movement of said bearing chocks 16 in a direction towards said roll removal position and means 28 connected to said bar 29 for moving said bar, bearing chocks 16 of said one roll and said beam 21 into said roll removal position.

4. In combination with a rolling mill according to claim 3, wherein said beam 21 has bearing chock supporting surfaces 24 engageable by said bearing chocks 16 and wherein said beam 21 is disposed between said bearing chocks 16 and said means 28 for moving said bearing chocks, and

said means 28 comprising a piston cylinder assembly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1935 Talbot 72238 9/1958 Reisacher et al. 72----238 

3. IN COMBINATION WITH A ROLLING MILL INCLUDING A PAIR OF ROLLS 14 AND 15 HAVING BEARING CHOCKS 16 CARRIED AT THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS, A DEVICE FOR POSITIONING AND SUPPORTING THE BEARING CHOCKS 16 OF ONE OF SAID ROLLS 14 IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION FOR REMOVAL OF THE ROLL, SAID DEVICE INCLUDING A BEAM 21 FOR SUPPORTING SAID BEARING CHOCKS 16 OF SAID ONE ROLL WHEN SAID BEARING CHOCKS ARE BROUGHT TO SAID ROLL REMOVAL POSITION, A MOVABLE BAR 29 SELECTABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID BEARING CHOCKS 16 OF SAID ONE ROLL THEREBY TO PLACE SAID BEARING CHOCKS 16 OF SAID ONE ROLL INTO TWO POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID BEAM 21, IN WHICH IN ONE POSITION BY VIRTUE OF THE BAR SAID BEARING CHOCKS 16 ARE CARRIED BY THE BAR AND URGED AGAINST SAID BEAM 21, AND IN SAID SECOND POSITION BY VIRTURE OF SAID BAR SAID BEARING CHOCKS 16 ARE FREE OF SAID BAR AND SUPPORTED BY THE BEAM 21, AN ARM 39 CARRIED BY SAID BAR 29 DISPLACEABLE WHEN SAID BEARING CHOCKS 16 OF SAID ONE ROLL ARE BROUGHT TO SAID ROLL REMOVAL POSITION, SAID DISPLACEMENT OF SAID ARM 39 CAUSING MOVEMENT OF SAID BAR 29 TO EFFECT RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID BEARING CHOCKS 16 AND SAID BEAM 21 UPON THE MOVEMENT OF SAID BEARING CHOCKS 16 IN A DIRECTION TOWARDS SAID ROLL REMOVAL POSITION AND MEANS 28 CONNECTED TO SAID BAR 29 FOR MOVING SAID BAR, BEARING CHOCKS 16 OF SAID ONE ROLL AND SAID BEAM 21 INTO SAID ROLL REMOVAL POSITION. 